Analyticon #7, July, 2011.
Lake Urmia. Northwestern Iran. Source: http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com
Archive for July 2011
Iran’s Role in the Region: New Trends
Category: Новости |
Iran is Extremely Cautious
Interview with the head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction in the NKR Parliament Armen SARGSYAN
Iran Starts and …
By Gegham BAGHDASARYAN
Editor-in-Chief of Analyticon journal
Stepanakert
On May 14, 2011, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia made an unprecedented statement, having two very important moments in it. The statement says that the official position of Iran on all foreign political issues is expressed exclusively by the President, Foreign Minister and the Spokesman of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so all other approaches should be considered as private opinions.
The Political Processes in the Middle East
By Sahak SHAHMURADIAN
Aliq newspaper correspondent
Tehran
In connection with the events, explosively developing in the Arab world at present, there have appeared some changes in the strategies of the powers from the West and East regarding the region of theMiddle East.
We and Iran: a Factor of the Permanent Value
By Rouben MEGHRABYAN
Armenian Center for Political and International studies
Yerevan
Iran’s neighbourhood with the South Caucasus dates back to the start of the history known to mankind, which cannot be said about Russia and Turkey. Iran’s border with the region has not been changed since the Russian-Persian war of 1826-1828, it has not waged wars beyond its borders or displayed military ambitions, which also cannot be said about the two mentioned countries.
The “Arab Spring” and the “Iranian Summer:” the Failed Revolution of 2009 and Its Consequences
By Michael ZOLYAN
Political scientist
Yerevan
The so called “Arab spring” to some extent overshadowed the summer events of 2009 in Iran, where the controversial presidential elections were followed by mass protest movements. However, Iran is still in the focus of attention of international community, as a whole, and our society, in particular, but it is mainly due to its nuclear program, or the foreign policy in the region. If the internal situation in Iran is spoken about, then mostly concerning the disagreements between the President and spiritual leader.
Azerbaijan and Iran: the Contradictions and Perspectives of Development of Their Relations
By Ali ABASOV
Independent expert
Baku
The relations between the two countries should be considered in parallel contexts of history and modern times. Azerbaijan was within the Iranian (Persian) empire for a long time, and before the Russian conquest of the Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus Azerbaijani khanates were in the immediate or indirect dependence from Iran. According to some sources, after the collapse of the Russian empire and by the results of the World War One, Tehran applied to the western countries with the request to annex Azerbaijan to Iran, referring to the history of the long existence of Azerbaijan within Iran.
Iran: the Factor of Instability in the Region
TheTehranregime has become a problem for all, includingAzerbaijanandArmenia
By Rauf MIRKADYROV
Political observer of Zerkalo newspaper
Baku
Recently being inBaku, the speaker of the Iranian parliament Ali Larijani has once again proposedTehranas a mediator for the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict for Nagorno Karabakh. None of experts or politicians has taken the statement of the speaker of the Iranian parliament seriously.
Iran’s Reaction to the Events in the Arab Countries: the Attempts to Consolidate Positions in the Region
By Anna GEVORKYAN
Researcher of the Centre for Civilization and Culture Studies,Yerevan StateUniversity
Yerevan
“The Arab spring” has forced the whole world to focus attention to the region, called theMiddle East. The events, taking place in almost all countries of the region, one after another, have changed the situation in these countries and their place and role in the region.
The Turkish-Azerbaijani Factor in the Armenian-Iranian Relations
By Emma BEGIJANYAN
Independent expert
Yerevan
The Armenian-Iranian relations have a reciprocal importance. In early 1990s, it was the Iranian territory that was almost the only way, connectingArmeniawith the outside world, and todayIranis still important forArmeniaas a transit country. As forArmenia, it is important forIranfrom the view of the national security, soTehranis interested in the stable and strongArmenia. In other words, in the current situation the relations between the two countries, ideally, should be developing and strengthening without any obstacle.
Political Situation in Iran is Still Tense
By Gohar ISKANDARYAN
Researcher of theIrandepartment of theInstituteofOriental Studies,
National Academy of Sciencies, theRepublicofArmenia
Yerevan
Developments in theMiddle Easthave always been in the focus of attention of the international community. In the recent times such attention has been doubled, which is connected with the turbulent events, going on in the Arab world. There is some danger that they will spill over to the whole region, including the neighbouringIran, where after the Presidential elections of 2009 passions have not calmed down so far.
When and in Which Conditions is Iran’s Fragmentation Possible?
By Artin ARAKELYAN
Expert in the Iranian issues
Yerevan
In the summer of 2009, after the presidential elections in Iran, the local reformers occupied towns and held large-scale protest actions against the re-elected President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, a number experts of political science and law expressed their concern that the fall of the Islamic regime in Iran can lead to fragmentation of the country, including to declaration of independence by the Iranian Azeris and creation of the Southern Azerbaijan close to the southern border of Armenia. Although this concern has its logic, incorrect comments should be avoided when analyzing the events.